Crewe Alex could be about to sign experienced striker Ryan Lowe from Bury, the Chronicle understands.

Manager Steve Davis has admitted he is in the market for a forward with a proven track record, and 37-year-old Lowe has emerged as the man most likely to come through the door at Gresty Road.

Lowe, who spent two seasons with the Alex between 2006 and 2008, used social media to indicate that he had been made available for loan by the Shakers earlier this month.

The centre forward has played less than 20 minutes of first team football this season and is seemingly not in the plans of David Flitcroft, but is understood to be fit and keep to make the move before the midweek loan deadline.

Lowe played for Buscough, Shrewsbury and Chester before joining the Alex, where he scored 17 goals in two campaigns.

But with players like Nicky Maynard and Luke Varney often ahead of him in the pecking order, he left in 2008 to rejoin Chester.

Goals flowed and he was soon snapped up by Bury where he bagged 53 goals in 100 outings. Spells and Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons and Tranmere Rovers followed before Lowe returned to Bury in May last year.

The forward helped the Shakers win promotion from League Two, but with the likes of Leon Clarke and Tom Pope brought in earlier this year his chances to play have been extremely limited, and injury niggles have hampered him futher.

Now he could be in line for a fresh start at Crewe as Davis looks to bolster a side which has managed just two goals in the last seven games.